Female Speaker: If you're in the market for a new car Do Your Part window shopping, hybrids are all the rage, but we wanted to find out how much they help the environment, if they really help save you money and what other good alternatives there are. So we met up with Cam Stewart, the General Manager of Honda Cars Of Rock Hill for some answers. We hear that there's a waiting list, if you want a hybrid, you have to pay and you're going to have to wait.
Cam Stewart: Well we certainly have had a waiting list for the past six months.
Female Speaker: When gas prices go up, so does the demand for hybrids. The reason, hybrids use less gas, because they are built with two engines. One engine is powered by electricity that recharges itself when you brake, and the other is powered by gasoline.
Cam Stewart: When you're seeing that stop light, the motor actually cuts off. When let your foot off the brake, that's when the motor reengages. If you're on the highway way and you are at cruising speed the motor actually shuts down, and it runs off the electronic motor.
Female Speaker: That means you'll be filling up your gas tank less often. A regular Honda Civic gets 36 miles to the gallon on the highway, the hybrid model gets 45. What is the difference in cost between these two cars which are very similar except for one runs on hybrid technology and one runs on conventional technology.
Cam Stewart: It costs around $3000 difference.
Female Speaker: So when could you make that difference up in gas savings? If gas is going for more than $3 a gallon, it'll take more than 13 years, but the savings when it comes to carbon dioxide emissions are much more immediate. A Civic hybrid creates 3000 pounds less carbon dioxide each year than a regular Civic.
Cam Stewart: Hybrid technology is kind of top of mind awareness right now, but there's also other technologies that help us get better fuel economy.
Female Speaker: One of those things is Variable Cylinder Management. It allows SUVs to shut off cylinders when cruising or slowing down and that saves gas.
Cam Stewart: So you still have great power, you can still have a large vehicle, without sacrificing the fuel economy. It doesn't have to be at 15 mile per gallon vehicle.
Female Speaker: But if a bigger vehicle isn't your thing, there are some small cars out there with big benefits. Check out the Honda Fit which boasts 33 miles to the gallon.
Cam Stewart: The neat thing about this car is all the storage capability that it has. These seats in the back they fold completely up. So it makes it like a station wagon almost.
Female Speaker: The bottom line, if you're happy with your car keep driving it, but if it's time for you to get a new one, hybrids are one option. You can even get a tax credit if you buy one. But also look into vehicles that get more to the gallon, even those big SUVs. You can shop smart, save money, and do your part to make your new car pucharse.
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