hybrid car batteries

By: Bond Mejeh

As studies have proven, gasoline-powered cars are indeed bad for the environment. 19.6 pounds of carbon dioxide is sent into the atmosphere for every gallon of gasoline that is burned, but measures have been taken to lessen the carbon output. One such measure has been the invention of the hybrid car-that is, a car that uses two different forms of power to operate, rather than relying on just one source. While this invention has reduced gasoline consumption, it has had one significant drawback-the batteries for a hybrid car are very expensive, ranging up to $3,000, as oppose to the regular vehicle battery which is only $150. The range in price is simply a vast difference.

However, automakers have announced a drop in the price of hybrid car batteries, down to around $2,500 dollars. These batteries will run a car until the 100,000 mile mark, and so replacing the battery really isn't more expensive than replacing the transmission, as you would need to do with a regular car after hitting that high mile mark. As the car buyer, what does this mean for you?

You can purchase a hybrid car for roughly the same amount you would spend on the higher-end model of the same car. For instance, a Toyota Camry runs from $19,000 to $28,000, depending on your dealer, and a hybrid Camry sells for around $26,000. This keeps hybrid cars very competitive in price with their gasoline using counterparts. But when a hybrid uses a smaller percentage of gasoline, and when the battery is now so much more affordable, this puts the purchase of a hybrid into the reach of those who might have thought they could never afford it.

As more and more consumers decide to save in the future by purchasing hybrids, our air will become cleaner and easier to breathe. Imagine if there were more hybrids on the road, and more people carpooling with hybrids? We cannot solve the greenhouse effect overnight, but hybrid car manufacturers are doing their part. We as consumers can do our part and now more than ever due to the decreases in prices.