Dual Fuel / Hybrid Advantages / Disadvantages

It may seem a contradiction to consider oneself a petrolhead with an environmental conscience, but many are weighing the ecological costs of motoring these days.

More people are considering hybrid or duel fuel cars, like the Prius and Civic Hybrid, which combine electrical power with petrol fuel. The electricity drives the engine in city conditions or traffic jams far more efficiently than petrol, with petrol power kicking in only at higher speeds. Proclaimed as miracles in green engineering by enthusiasts and expensive gimmicks by detractors, let’s take a more neutral look.

Advantages

1. Hybrid cars reduce CO2 emissions by a thumping 25% - 30%. If more of us drove them, there would be a strong environmental impact.

2. They’re more fuel-efficient. Electrical power takes over in slow traffic conditions, which typically burn petrol uselessly, and the materials used for the body are considerably lighter than for standard cars. With aerodynamic design too, this means substantial efficiency.

3. You’ll be exempt from congestion charges and have lower annual tax bills (governments encourage green initiatives).

Disadvantages

1. Hybrid cars are considerably more expensive. You’ll partially off-set this with lower fuel and tax bills, but presently the cost still outstrips the financial benefits.

2. The soundless performance when on electrical power has drawn criticism. Drivers are often misled into thinking that the car has cut out, and pedestrians may find an important channel of communication – the sound of an approaching car – cut off.

3. You might find the car less powerful than you’re used to because the petrol component is smaller than normal.