Are Hybrid Cars Big Savers?

There is a general notion among many people that hybrid cars save a lot of money, that they are fuel efficient and that they are the right answer to the current spiraling energy prices.

Hybrid cars became the focus of attention over the last few years due to rising oil prices. Automobile manufactures and others are constantly trying to evolve new technologies and new automobiles in order to overcome the energy scarcity.

Development of hybrid cars is one of the several strategies which auto manufactures have been experimenting with.

Market also seems to have responded well to the concept of hybrid cars. The demand for such cars has been growing over the years.

What differentiates hybrid vehicles is that they have a rechargeable energy storage system for increasing fuel efficiency than what is available in conventional vehicles.


Most important hybrid vehicle manufacturers at present are Ford, General Motors, Honda, Mazda, Nissan, Peugeot, Renault and Toyota. In fact, Toyota has been the highest producer of these types of vehicles recently.

The general belief is that these cars save energy and money for an owner. Several critics have opined that they may be energy efficient, but at current prices they will not save money for their owners.

Cost benefit analysis reveals that the prices of hybrid cars are more than the savings that they may generate over their lives. However, in case, oil prices go sufficiently high, then hybrid cars can have a positive cost benefit ratio.

At present there are two scenarios. First, hybrid cars are energy efficient and these help conserve energy at national level. However, at the current prices, they are not economical for an individual in the long run.

Hybrid vehicles have nonetheless caught up with the public, with the result that their production and sales have zoomed over the last few years. With increased stress on energy conservation and rising prices, the future of hybrids seems to be only upwards.