The advantages of PHEVs (plug-in hybrid electric vehicles)

Are you curious about the advantages of replacing your current hybrid with a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle?

Even though it's nice to be good to the environment, there should be more to it than just saving the planet, right?

There are, thankfully, numerous advantages that will assist you in actually saving money and not just the environment.

1) PHEVs, or plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, can achieve 100 mpg.

Yes, you can get more than 100 miles per gallon if you use your PHEV for trips like your daily commute and drive less than 50 miles per day. It will be less for long road trips, but since most people only take short trips on a daily basis, you won't use much gas. Your gas engine might not even need to start on some days, which means you won't use any gas.

2) PHEVs Are Cleaner Than Gas-Powered Vehicles One common criticism of plug-in vehicles is that they merely transfer pollution from automobiles to power plants. Although it is true that PHEVs transfer pollution, the tradeoff is not equal. Even though half of the power in this country comes from coal, studies show that using electric power in a vehicle results in 67% less greenhouse gas emissions than using gasoline. This is due to the fact that large powerplants are significantly cleaner and more effective than conventional internal combustion engines.

3) As they get older, become cleaner.

Due to the fact that the electrical grid gets cleaner every ten years, only PHEVs and 100% electric vehicles actually get cleaner as they get older. As it ages, a typical gasoline-powered vehicle loses efficiency and becomes dirtier.

4) Less Expensive to Run and Maintain While PHEVs and electric vehicles (EVs) cost more up front, they actually run and maintain less expensively than conventional non-hybrid automobiles. For instance, if gas costs $3 per gallon, the best non-hybrid automobiles will cost 8 cents per mile, while gas-guzzlers will cost at least 20 cents per mile. On the other hand, on short trips, a PHEV will cost only 2-4 cents per mile. Alternately, if you'd like a different perspective, running the electric engine gives you the price of 75 cents per gallon of gas.

5) PHEVs Reduce Dependence On Foreign Oil The electric grid only uses oil for 3% of its power, so when it comes to generating electricity, there is very little reliance on foreign oil (about half comes from coal). It has been estimated that we could completely eliminate foreign oil and use 55% less oil if everyone drove PHEVs.

Electric automobiles are now available, but can they really compete with conventional automobiles?

The Nissan Leaf The 2011 car of the year The first vehicle to achieve 100 percent electricity. Ever.

We believe that producing no emissions at all is the most effective strategy for addressing the issue of emissions. The makers of the new Leaf, Nissan, agree.

The Nissan Leaf is a car that runs on batteries. But don't let that discourage you! This plug-in electric vehicle was developed with a lot of time and money by Nissan. It is now entering mass production at Nissan plants worldwide and may have cost the company billions of dollars.

This car is very exciting because it already has the reputation of being a specifically designed electric car rather than a modification of an existing model.

The Nissan Leaf, according to Carlos Ghosn, is "competitive" with conventional automobiles in terms of safety, performance, spaciousness, and handling.

But does it have the potential to compete with established gasoline- and diesel-powered automobiles? Several critics believe so.

Some of their positive remarks are as follows:

They claim a top speed of 90 mph (144 kph) and a drivetrain that is very quiet and smooth. The car handles well and holds the road well.

The batteries are well-hidden thanks to careful design. There is ample space for passengers and luggage.

Good construction and careful attention to detail Like all current electric vehicles, it has a limited range before needing to be refueled. If the battery is full, you might only get 100 miles.

However, we must begin somewhere. The first cars with internal combustion had reliability issues, were difficult to drive, and were outside, but they got better over time. In a similar vein, drivers will most likely adjust to driving an electric vehicle and develop strategies for dealing with its limited range. More charging stations will be installed, particularly in urban areas, as technology advances.

Will you "Refresh Your Leaf"? Is it actually beneficial to the environment to drive one of these vehicles? It produces no tailpipe emissions, but electricity must be generated at a power plant.

Should I buy or not? Actually, it won't be your first car. It's hard to recommend if you don't live in a big city because of its price. This lively little Nissan might be just the thing for you if you have the money and only need to drive short distances around town.