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There are many benefits of buying a hybrid car besides saving money on gas. Many Canadians are looking at the hybrid as a way to save gas money and help with the environmental issues that come from emissions given off by standard cars. Although there are ways to drive a non-hybrid car and omit fewer emissions, the incentives to buy and own hybrids are making it difficult for people to say no to a hybrid. Even though there are benefits, one has to consider all the pros and cons of owning a hybrid vehicle. Here are some of the benefits of owning a hybrid vehicle in Canada.
Pros
The Honda Insight was the first hybrid offered in Canada in 2000. Since that time, many other vehicles have been introduced as an alternative to standard gasoline cars. The hybrids are powered by electricity and gasoline. This helps reduce the emissions that are sent into the atmosphere. This without a doubt improves the quality of the air and protects the environment. The lower emissions are just one of the benefits of owning and driving a hybrid car. Another benefit of the hybrid is the savings on the cost of gas.
Another incentive to buy a hybrid is the government's tax credit or tax rebate. This is a one-time deal and it is only available in five provinces: Prince Edward Island, Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba and British Columbia. The credit or tax rebate ranges from $1,000 to $3,000. However, in 2007, the federal government introduced the Vehicle Efficiency Incentive that gives new buyers up to a $2,000 rebate. This means that anyone purchasing a hybrid car could receive a tax credit if they buy a fuel-efficient vehicle that is brand new.
Cons
Maintaining a hybrid could be costly for some owners. The makers of hybrid vehicles say that it does not cost any more to maintain hybrids than regular cars, but there is some controversy surrounding this statement. If a hybrid has any mechanical issues with the charging system, this could be costly. Finding someone certified to work on a hybrid could take some time. Not every garage will work on hybrids. If you live in an area that gets large amounts of snow, a hybrid is probably not a good car for the road. Areas that see flooding are also not ideal for hybrids.
The price of a hybrid vehicle is slightly more than a vehicle that runs solely on gasoline. The comparison between a Chevy Malibu and the Chevy Hybrid Malibu is about a $6,300 difference. This does not seem that much, but if you consider the costs of fixing each vehicle, it could end up costing more. Hybrids have more costs associated with them than standard fuel cars. Before buying a hybrid for greener driving, you have to consider the cost, maintenance that could be needed and the amount of driving you do.
Neutral Facts
The insurance for a hybrid verses a standard gasoline car is not much different. There really is no benefit from the viewpoint of insurance. There are no incentives for driving green with the hybrid. This, however, could change in the future, but for right now there is not a big difference in the cost of insurance for one or the other.
As for driving and handling, the hybrid and standard gasoline vehicles have the same ride and feel. The only difference with the hybrid may be less interior room because of the electrical system. This is not a big noticeable difference. You still receive the comfort of the car and the controls for the car and any extras are not compromised.
Decisions, Decisions
Overall, the hybrid is a good vehicle for protecting the environment and does cost less to run. There are some considerations to make between the two vehicles, but you can decide if the savings would be greater or equal to owning a hybrid verses a standard vehicle. If green driving is what you want to do to help the environment, then the hybrid would be the ideal car. You will have everything as far as features and comfort from the hybrid that you would from a standard vehicle.
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