Hybrid Cars Represent a Breakthrough in Cleaner Vehicles

Environmentally-friendly vehicles such as the Honda CR-Z Hybrid are being increasingly used in our towns and cities as motorists take greater efforts to reduce their carbon emissions.

Hybrid cars are especially useful in urban areas where pollution tends to be more of a problem, and fortunately for drivers they are able to bridge the gap between excellent fuel economy and low carbon emissions. Furthermore, there’s no need to plug a hybrid car into a mains electricity supply in order to recharge its batteries.

The CR-Z Hybrid is among the most innovative hybrid vehicles available. Not only does it prove that a sporty hybrid is possible and deliverable, it shows that green cars can be fun, quick and exciting to drive. It has made a big impression since being unveiled in 2007, and developers attribute the vehicle’s success to its sports car appeal combined with its environmentally-friendly credentials. But how exactly does a hybrid vehicle work?

Well, the clue is in the name – cars such as the CR-Z Hybrid are powered using a combination of a petrol or diesel engine and an electric motor. Combining these two power sources efficiently is beneficial for the driver and the environment in terms of fuel economy and the lack of harmful emissions. Such forward-thinking technology is changing the face of motoring the UK, and as one of only two vehicle manufacturers selling hybrid cars, Honda is at the forefront of its development.

A hybrid car really comes into its own in an urban environment. The constant slowing down, accelerating and stop-starting is not good for conventional vehicles’ fuel consumption, and this is where you really notice the fuel economy benefits that a hybrid vehicle can deliver. What’s more, you needn’t worry about the lack of a dedicated electric recharging network – cars such as the CR-Z has its battery charged using the engine, meaning you can concentrate on your driving.

While hybrid vehicles do emit some emissions, they emit significantly less pollutants than conventional petrol and diesel cars. They’re also far quieter, meaning Britain can look forward to more peaceful roads in the not-too-distant future. If travelling at particularly slow speeds, hybrid cars are almost completely silent – something that has been known to confuse drivers of conventional vehicles suspecting that the car may have broken down.

What if you’re a family and you want to make the switch to a hybrid vehicle? Many households do – according to the Energy Saving Trust, if Britain changes its car-buying habits then emissions can be reduced by 25 per cent, and this is something families are increasingly taking notice of. And with 26 million cars on the road, it’s important to choose the right one for you and your family’s needs.

Many smaller households have been swayed by the Honda Insight Hybrid, a five-door hatchback that allows motorists to know whether they’re driving efficiently thanks to the innovative Eco Assist system. At the end of each journey drivers are provided with an ‘ECO score’, which over time will show how much money you’ve saved on fuel in addition to the emissions you’ve prevented from entering the atmosphere.

As the UK moves towards a low carbon economy, more families are learning that a hybrid vehicle will produce 25 per cent to 35 per cent less carbon dioxide than a conventional one. This is thanks to the second, battery-powered engine, and could explain why the Insight Hybrid was the best-selling vehicle in Japan in April last year. The car is also especially popular in London, where it is exempt from the capital’s Congestion Charge.

Vehicles such as the Insight Hybrid and CR-Z Hybrid are welcome additions to Britain’s automobile market. Unlike the majority of consumer products, which have tended to get smaller and more efficient, cars have, until recently, done precisely the opposite. On average, a car nowadays is 30 per cent heavier than in the 1970s, and only in the last few years have manufacturers started investing heavily in hybrid technology.

With the government having recognised the environmental benefits of hybrid vehicles, motorists embracing in the technology can look forward to a range of financial incentives by choosing to drive a vehicle such as the Insight Hybrid and CR-Z Hybrid. Not only are the cars exempt from the London Congestion Charge, but drivers can also expect to have significantly lower annual car tax bills.

A number of motorists have questioned why the automotive industry isn’t moving towards purely electric vehicles and is instead concentrating on hybrid vehicles. The answer lies in the fact that, in addition to a drive towards more environmentally-friendly technology, motorists are largely keen on retaining the petrol or diesel engine that they feel comfortable with.

Since the first hybrid car arrived in Europe ten years ago, the vehicles have gone to become extremely popular, despite some early scepticism. The future of the technology looks bright, so can we all expect to be behind the wheel of a hybrid vehicle in the near future? Well, this is looking increasingly likely. If you prefer a diesel engine, you’ll be pleased to know that the first diesel hybrid cars are in development, while hybrid vehicles are also getting faster – banishing any worries that they are slower and less fun to drive than conventional vehicles.

By utilising two different energy sources, hybrid cars have given themselves room for an improved driving performance. Some models are capable of going from zero to 60mph in seven seconds, while a greater torque can be produced compared to that of a petrol engine running in isolation.

While hybrid vehicles vary in terms of performance, sophistication, price and emissions, one thing can be sure: that all are more environmentally-friendly than their petrol equivalents and that the greatest environmental benefits can be found while driving in town and city centres.

What’s more, purchasing a hybrid car is an investment – not only can you look forward to reducing your carbon footprint, but you can look ahead to owning an eco-friendly vehicle that will have a much lower depreciation rate than a standard petrol car. If you’re part of a family looking to lower its carbon emissions or a motorist in the city, then the Insight Hybrid and CR-Z Hybrid may be right up your street.

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