Which one would you buy, a hybrid, an electric car, or a normal car? why?

Answer 1

I vote electric. Any fuel can be converted into electricity, and electric motors are far more efficient than internal combustion engines, therefore an electric car is the most efficient way to utilize any fuel.
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This applies especially to the transportation of the fuel. The electric car is the only auto that refuels by wire. Sending electricity over the power grid is 95% efficient. Other fuels must be transported by truck, barge, or pipeline, all of which have much lower efficiencies.
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These efficiencies are confirmed by marketplace prices. most electric vehicles burn electricity at the rate of 1 cent per mile, far cheaper than any other fuel.
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The mass-market EV has been held back by battery technology, but research is finally giving us breakthroughs to solve this problem. Here are some electric cars in development right now. Some may be available as soon as next year:
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From Europe: The Electric Mini - does 150 mph!
http://www.treehugger.com/files/2006/08/the_hybrid_mini.php

From China: The Happy Messenger - only costs $10000, goes 150 miles per charge:
http://www.greencarcongress.com/2005/12/chinese_ev_comp.html

Also from China: the BYD car, designed to be affordable, with a 250-mile range:
http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/News/articleId=106930

The GEO EV, from Korea. It goes 155 miles on a three hour charge:
http://joongangdaily.joins.com/200505/18/200505182238171109900090609062.html

Also from Korea. The ENERGINE Electric-Pneumatic hybrid.
It runs on air and electricity. No gasoline:
http://www.energine.com/e_main.php

From Japan. The Subaru R1E. Charges to 90% in 5 minutes, costs under $18000:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8995780

Also from Japan. The Mitsubishi Colt EV, with advanced lithium-ion batteries:
http://media.mitsubishi-motors.com/pressrelease/e/corporate/detail1269.html

An imported Chinese car, hopefully to be available here in the US:
http://www.milesautomotive.com/products_xs200.html
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As for the expense, no problem. As long as you don't need the latest technology, there are affordable electric cars around even today. Look at this guy - he makes new EVs out of old 1980's cars. His prices start under $5000:
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http://grassrootsev.com/convert.htm
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Answer 2

That depends on you objective. If it's total low cost of ownership, including fuel, insurance, etc., you can't beat a new high mpg gasoline ultra low emission vehicle (someday maybe a diesel).

If you're trying to make a statement, you could opt for a hybrid being careful to compare apples to apples when shopping. But hybrids will NOT deliver the mileage the Feds tell you it will, simply because they're mpg tests are flawed and can not accurately predict mileage for hybrids. Also hybrids often do best in stop/go traffic where the regenerative braking is useful. (Think taxi cab in Vancouver, Canada for example.) Even then, however, you may not recoup the extra purchase cost over the life of the vehicle.

If you want to rebel and harm the environment at the same time go electric: high initial cost; short range; pollutes the environment 10 percent more than the cleanest gas power trains. How can that be? All the power for the vehicle originates from commercial power plants which are often oil or coal fired and very dirty. (The quoted range figures often do NOT include operating the AC, entertainment system, windshield wipers, etc., all of which reduce total range.)

Answer 3

You DO have to buy gas for a hybrid, but not as much of it. A hybrid car will start and get up to speed on gas power, but switch to electric for all highest gear driving up to a certain speed, then the gas engine will kick back in to assist at higher speeds (like when you're speeding to overtake on highways). I've been looking at the Ford Escapes (with a certain amount of longing, I must admit), but can not as yet afford one.

I could not even think of an electric car, because they just do not come in a big enough size for my family. There are seven of us living under the same roof.

I will probably end up purchasing a minivan, like so many millions of people before me. I sure wish they offered one with a hydrogen engine though. It can't be THAT hard to crack water molecules for fuel?

Answer 4

Neither of the three I would buy a diesel and it would be the VW's TDI models which is a 1.9 turbo diesel engine with 45 to 50 mpg at same time the engine will last you to about 400,000 miles or more depends on how well you keep the oil changes and everything up now a hybrid you would have to buy more batteries later on thus costing you more than normal cars gas and normal gas car well look around and their is your answer.

Answer 5

Depends. Forget all electric, period!!!. Hybrids are great if you drive around town, not so great on freeways or hwys. Forget hybrids if you will put more than 100K miles on it. Replacement batteries and other "hybrid-only-parts" are VERY EXPENSIVE and most warranties expire by then.
Hybrids are "greener" is a slight misnomer. Where do all those dead used batteries go (nothing is 100% recycled). How dirty is it to make the batteries compared to "regular" cars. The "greener" factor starts to fade a bit when these things are taken into account.
VW TDI's=45+mpg
Honda Civic (Automatic)rated 30mpg city 40mpg hwy
Honda Fit =honest 39mpg overall
Honda Insight ?????? =45+mpg depending on driving conditions.
Toyota Yaris 4dr.=honest 36mpg overall
Nissan Versa=35+ honest mpg

Answer 6

A hybrid car (if i could and had the money) because it helps the enviorement unlike a normal car and it can drive just like a normal car unlike a electric car and you dont have to buy gas for a hybrid car so yeah! :)

Answer 7

The Civic Hybrid is a wonderful car, read the reviews. As a matter of fact, any Honda Civic is a great car, worth more that the asking price.

Answer 8

I would love to try an electric car but while you will save money on fuel the other running cost are high.

Prices on parts for electrically driven motors?.

Electrical cars must be taken back to the dealers as normal mechanics don't have the required licenses to work on vehicles with such high voltages.

Answer 9

I drive an electric Ranger (they didn't make many, they don't want to make any more, either) to work and back 48mi, but heavy weight and horrible aerodynamics make me drive like a granny to make the RT safely. My wie drives a RAV4, but we only put a few thousand miles a year on it between her short commute and the few family trips we take.

I'd rather commute in a Tesla http://www.teslamotors.com/ or even a Tango http://www.commutercars.com/ and have, as the second car my wife drives, a plug-in diesel/SVO hybrid (RAV4 or Highlander sized) with 40-50mi of electric autonomy.

Even more of a dream machine would be flying an electric plane (actually a glider with built-in electric tow) http://www.lange-flugzeugbau.com/htm/english/news/news.html

Answer 10

Regular car, but I'm old school. I've driven Ford's escape hybrid. It was ok. I think the technology will be better in years to come. I like the roar of a rwd V8 myself. That's why I don't drive a new car...