Tips on Maintenance, Safety and General Help for Hybrid Car Owners

Hybrid cars are a bit different then your typical gasoline powered vehicle.  As a hybrid car owner, you need to make sure you understand how to care for your hybrid so that it does not break down or have problems.

One of the first things you should understand is the maintenance of a hybrid car.  Hybrid cars have different components then a typical gasoline powered car.  You will need to understand how to care for a hybrids unique needs.

Hybrid cars have batteries and you need to understand them.  Battery packs designed for hybrid vehicles are manufactured to last for the lifetime of the car. This can be as long as 150,000 to 200,000 miles and up, although warranties on batteries generally are usually between eight to ten years and vary by manufacturer.

As more and more mechanics are learning how to properly service and repair hybrid vehicles, the less owners have to take their cars back to the dealer to be serviced. Maintenance costs for hybrid cars are generally the same as they are for other vehicles, and may even be less, as there is considerably less wear and tear on these types of engines as opposed to conventional gasoline engines.

One of the best ways to avoid the need for having your car repaired for some reason is to have it serviced on a regular basis.

If you do not plan on driving your hybrid car for a period of more than three months, experts recommend starting the vehicle for about a half hour every 90 days. Leaving the car dormant for more than three months may require a charge to the battery by a professional mechanic.

Energy Saving Driving Tips

Another way to care for your hybrid is to make sure you are using it to its maximum efficiency.  Chances are you bought the hybrid car to save money and to reduce pollution in the air, so read on to find out how to get the most benefits from your hybrid car.

Maintaining a constant speed, without unnecessarily accelerating, allows for the most fuel efficiency. Energy is used every time you speed up, energy that's also wasted when the car slows down again.

It's a proven fact that the faster you go, the more aerodynamic drag there is on a car, which essentially slows it down causing the car to work harder and use more energy. Speeds at 50 mph or about 81 kph have a drag force that is half of what it would be if you were going 70 mph or 113 kph instead.

Abruptly stopping a hybrid vehicle mostly uses power from the brakes. However, if you allow for ample braking time, it gives the electric part of the motor a chance to recover some energy while slowing the car down, energy that can then be reused. 

As with any vehicle, suddenly accelerating is a waste of energy, and a hybrid is no different. Most hybrids will stay in an all "electric mode" until the car reaches about 15 miles per hour. If you accelerate slowly from there, the car is able to stay in that energy saving mode up until as much as 30 mph, saving gasoline and saving the environment of harmful emissions.

A great majority of people drive on residential streets, from town to town on roads that have speed limits under 35 mph. By avoiding sudden accelerations and decelerations you can help the car run as efficiently as possible, without unnecessarily using the gasoline engine for power.

Safety Issues

In general, your hybrid car is a lot like your typical gasoline powered car and general safety fro hybrid cars are the same as for gasoline powered cars.  Here are some safety tips just to remind you.

It is generally recommended to use a tow dolly when towing a hybrid vehicle as many of them, including the Toyota Prius, require that the front wheels be off the ground. Some hybrid cars indicate that nothing should be towed behind the vehicle, although there are those that clearly state their specific towing capacity, which of course should be strictly adhered to for safety reasons.

Several hybrid vehicles come standard with airbags, but it is always a good idea to check with the manufacturer to see if the specific types of airbags you're looking for are offered in the model you're interested in.

Most hybrid cars rank rather high in safety ratings in comparison with other vehicles of a similar weight and have an impressive customer satisfaction rate as well.

Also be sure to check with your tax preparer in your area about any incentives or tax breaks that you may be eligible for as the owner of a hybrid vehicle. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) in the United States has allocated so much money for tax credits, however, as their popularity increases, the amount of the tax credits decrease. For example, a Toyota Prius purchased before September 30th, 2006 earned its owner $3,150 in tax credits, and $1,575 if purchased between October 1st 2006 and March 31st, 2007, but the same car purchased after October 1st, 2007 is eligible for no tax credits at all.

Quick Facts About Hybrid Cars

There are some other things you should keep in mind about your hybrid.  Here is a list of some other things to keep in mind when it comes to your hybrid car.

- When a hybrid is stopped, the gasoline portion of the engine shuts off and the electric motor takes over.

- Hybrid cars are lighter and generally more aerodynamic than conventional cars.

- Tires on hybrids are usually stiffer and are inflated higher than tires on regular cars.