What do you think of when you think of a hybrid? Perhaps a slow, impractical vehicle that only an eco-freak could love. However, this view is far from the current reality in the hybrid market. In this article we will examine some of the most common hybrid myths.

Hybrids must be plugged in
Hybrids on the market, including the Toyota Prius and Honda Civic Hybrid, do not need to be plugged in at all. The battery inside is entirely charged through regenerative braking and the engine when it runs low. The cars must be refueled like other conventional vehicles. Plugin hybrids exist only as experiments and no commercial plugin hybrids are currently available.

Hybrids are slow
While it is true that earlier hybrids accelerated more slowly than other cars, they have always benefitted from instant torque from electric motors. New, high-horsepower class hybrids such as the Accord Hybrid, Lexus RX 400h, and Ford Escape Hybrid actually accelerate faster than their conventional equivalents and still obtain better fuel economy. Performance hybrid concepts have even been built to outperform their non-hybrid counterparts.

All hybrids are the same
There is virtually as much variation in hybrids now as in the entire automotive market. The Honda Insight is a small two seater car, while the Lexus RX 400h is a luxury SUV. Any style of vehicle can benefit from a hybrid electric system, so it is only logical that automakers will start adding them to all of their vehicles.

The only reason to drive a hybrid is to save money on gas
Gas savings are a big reason why people drive hybrids, but equally important reasons are low emissions and increased acceleration. Many hybrids obtain SULEV and AT-PZEV emissions standards, making them far friendlier to the enivronment than the average car. Air quality would be a lot better if everyone drove a hybrid. Additionally, technological advances have allowed hybrids to take significant leaps in performance.

Hydrogen powered cars will soon overtake hybrids
It is possible that hydrogen powered vehicles could overtake hybrids someday. However, the hydrogen economy still has a long way to go before that is viable. Most importanly, how will the hydrogen fuel be produced and will it be safe to transport and distribute? Like it or not, we will be dependent on gasoline for many years to come.

Battery repairs will be expensive
The truth is, hybrids have not been out long enough to know just how long the battery packs will last. A taxi driver in New York is known to have put well over 200K miles on their Prius and had no problems with the battery. Manufacturers predict that battery replacements, if required, cost between $2,000 and $4,000 but will decrease in price with time.

Hybrids get nowhere near the EPA numbers
It is widely known that most every car on the market falls short of EPA mileage estimates. Hybrids are not exceptions. After modifying their driving techniques, many hybrid owners find they can actually exceed the EPA numbers by a substantial margin.

Hybrids are not worth their premium
Hybrids offer many benefits to the purchaser that often exceed the premium in value: 1) Money saved on gasoline. With gas at $2.70 currently in CA that adds up fast. 2) Less time wasted at the flling station. For people with busy lives, making 2 trips a month to the filling station is more convenient than making 3. 3) Increased performance in the newest hybrids make them a choice for the power-hungry. 4) Longer range and better mileage means less worry about running out of fuel. 5) Quiet operation. Hybrids are quieter than gas only cars. 6) Low emissions. Less harmul pollutants generated to be released into the environment.

In summary, hybrids currently suffer from many misunderstandings. With time and word of mouth hopefully these notions can be dispelled and more people can discover the joy of owning these wonderful cars.