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Think green - go hybrid
By Anita Stratos
With gas prices reaching ever-increasing highs, many people are rethinking the type of car they drive.The combination of fuel efficiency
 | | Hybrid Nissan Altima JEFF GRANIT staff |
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from an economic perspective and the new trend to "think green" from the environmental angle has some car manufacturers introducing new hybrid cars as well as redesigning popular gas models into hybrids.And with tax incentives on most hybrids, car buyers are seeing green, too.
The first hybrid SUV on the market was the Ford Escape Hybrid, which you can find at Larson Ford in Lakewood. The new Escape Hybrid boasts up to 500 miles per tank, which Ford states is about 40 percent more than the nonhybrid Escape V6. Drivers can also expect to get up to 34 miles per gallon in the city; hybrid cars are especially economical for city driving, as opposed to gas engines that get higher mileage during highway driving.The reason for this is that hybrid engines revert to electric power when the brake is applied, shutting off the gas engine, powering the battery, and giving drivers better fuel economy during stop-and-go city driving.
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The Escape Hybrid first came on the market in 2006, so its depreciation value hasn't yet been determined;however, most experts predict a lower depreciation rate on hybrids than on traditional combustion engines.The Escape's new 2008 body style has been well received by car buyers, increasing the overall demand for this new SUV hybrid.
You can find out more about the Ford Escape Hybrid at www.larsonford.com or call the company at (732) 363- 8100.
Hybrid engines generally run quieter than traditional gas engines, and some can't be heard at all when running on the battery. Unlike fully electric cars,hybrids don't have to be plugged in at night - this is a relatively common misperception. The batteries on a hybrid car can last from 10 to 12 years, which is longer than many people even own their cars.
The Mercury Mariner Hybrid you'll find at Irwin Lincoln- Mercury-Mazda in Freehold is a luxurious,comfortable SUV that offers a smooth ride.And since it gets up to 29 miles per gallon in the city, it's estimated that drivers could save over 800 gallons of gas for every 50,000 miles of driving.
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Like other hybrids, the Mercury Mariner Hybrid has a regenerative braking system that automatically charges the battery pack.Mercury produces its Mariner Hybrid in Kansas City under the carbon-offset program, which funds "U.S.-based renewable clean energy projects that reduce emissions elsewhere."
Hybrids generally have a bit less actual horsepower than gas engine vehicles, but they accelerate quickly and can drive just as fast as traditional cars. Better aerodynamics, lighter weight bodies, and higher fuel efficiency more than make up for the slight difference in horsepower.At lower speeds, the Mariner Hybrid runs on the battery alone; with more acceleration it switches to battery and gas, and at higher speeds it runs on gas alone.The vehicle sensing system automatically determines what ratio drivers need at any given moment.
For more information about the Mercury Mariner Hybrid, visit www.irwincars.com or call the dealership at (732) 462- 1818.
The new 2007 Nissan Altima Hybrid,now available at Acme Nissan in South Brunswick, offers a very attractive 42 miles per gallon in the city and 36 miles per gallon highway.The car is capable of getting over 700 miles per tank of city driving.
The Altima Hybrid offers electronically controlled eCVT (Continuously Variable Transmission), which is a two pulley system transmission that eliminates shift shock. It also has partial zero emissions, which means that no fuel vapors escape from the exhaust, so it doesn't contribute to smog.With gas at about $3 per gallon, the average city driver can save up to $60 per month with the Altima Hybrid over a comparable nonhybrid car.
You can get a price quote, schedule a test drive, or just see more of the Altima Hybrid at www.acmenissan.com, or give them a call at (732) 821-9300.
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