Hybrid Cars

Driving one of the new high-tech hybrids — cars that combine the power of a gas engine with an electric motor to reduce fuel consumption and emissions — may seem like something only an environmentalist or an engineer could get revved up about. The fact is, however, that a new generation of hybrid cars and trucks due to go on sale within the next 12 months offer a number of very practical advantages for families, from saving money to helping save the planet. Many experts are predicting 2004 will be the year that hybrids turn the corner from eco-friendly novelty to mainstream transportation.
There's never been a better time to consider a switch to one of these green, clean, gas-saving machines. Here, eight reasons a hybrid may be perfect for your family. 1. They're as comfortable to drive as conventional cars.

There's no difference between a hybrid and the gas-powered car parked in your garage — it can accelerate just as quickly and cruise just as fast on the highway, and it handles just as smoothly. Most important, hybrids are just as safe to drive. Well, there is one difference: Hybrids are super-quiet — sometimes you can't tell whether the engine is running or not! When power is not needed — at a red light, say, or in bumper-to-bumper traffic — the engine completely shuts down and revs up again when you press on the accelerator, meaning you don't waste gas or emit toxins. Hybrids run on a rechargeable battery and gasoline rather than gas alone, but the power shift between the gas engine and electric motor is so seamless that you're likely to forget about all the advanced technology moving you down the road. And there's no need to plug them in as you would with an all-electric car; the electric motor also acts as a generator during deceleration and braking to continually recharge the batteries as you drive. 2. You're sure to find a model that fits your family's lifestyle.

Currently, there are three popular hybrids on the market: Honda's compact