Hybrid Auto Insurance and Specifications

Even though gas prices have been lower lately, the new 2009 hybrid model cars are something that many consumers have been looking forward to. While automakers have not been able to deliver every advantage they wanted to with the 2009 hybrids, they have come out with some really great cars that can offer the desirable benefits of owning a hybrid. Besides, you never know what exciting new advances are around the corner in the near future of hybrids. Hybrid technology is on the cutting edge and developing in new ways constantly.

What’s Hot in Hybrids?

The hottest new hybrid models for 2009 include the Cadillac Escalade and the Saturn Vue Green Line. Both are true hybrids and give you the fuel efficiency you want in a hybrid. The Cadillac Escalade hybrid will give you nearly double the fuel efficiency of the non-hybrid version. This is also true of the Saturn Vue Green Line. With the many fluctuations in gas prices, knowing that your gas is going twice as far is a good thing. While some people question the idea of SUVs that are hybrids, they definitely make sense for those consumers who want an SUV but also want the fuel efficiency benefits of a hybrid.

What’s Not So Hot In Hybrids?

Honda and Toyota are still dominating the hybrid market when it comes to hybrids, but they are only offering updated models that don’t have any major new improvements to offer. There are other companies out there that say their new models are hybrids, but this may not necessarily be true. Some of these vehicles have helped coin the phrase, “mild hybrids.” These vehicles don’t really offer much in the way of fuel efficiency and have the put the word “hybrid” in their description to give the image of being green and eco-friendly. One example of this is the 2009 Chevrolet Malibu. It really only offers you a 2 mpg increase in efficiency. The main way that companies tweak their vehicles to provide this to consumers is to use technology that shuts off the engine while your vehicle is idling. There are better ways to do this, such as installing larger batteries or providing regenerative braking, but for now, the mild hybrids are not including those features. In addition, some “power hybrids” do give you more power, but you will find that you get it at the expense of fuel efficiency. If you are looking for a hybrid vehicle, you should do your homework on what is actually available.

What’s Next In Hybrids?

Look for some new and exciting developments in available hybrid technology towards the end of 2009 and into 2010. Honda is touting their new Honda Insight hybrid for the middle of 2009. It is supposed to cost less than the Honda Prius because of its smaller size. Consumers can expect the competition in hybrids to continue to intensify. Currently, Toyota is conducting tests on their version of the plug-in electric hybrid vehicle that will be similar to the Prius. Auto industry experts are forecasting a retail version sometime in late 2009 for commercial use and the consumer version will be released in 2010 or later. The hybrid field is definitely becoming interesting as automakers race to be the ones to develop new hybrid technologies.

The One to Talk About

Of Course, the hybrid vehicle that everyone is talking about recently is the Chevy Volt. GM released the official pictures of the final design to the general public. This version of the Chevy Volt doesn’t have the flashy look of the GM concept car of the Chevy Volt on display at the Detroit Auto Show this past year. However, this seems to have no impact on the enthusiasm people have for the Volt’s planned release, which is to be sometime in the latter part of 2010.

The unique feature that makes the Volt so attractive to consumers is the Volt’s ability to travel as many as 40 miles on a battery charge in a standard household outlet. It is also the first serious competition for the Toyota Prius in terms of technology. The main difference in the technologies used by these two vehicles is that the Prius uses its gas engine as a supplement to the electric motor when the vehicle reaches a specific speed. The Volt, on the other hand, uses gas only after it has exhausted its 40 mile charge on the battery. When it reaches that point, then the Volt uses gas to generate electric power for the motor. What this means to consumers is that the Volt will allow them save money by only using electricity for short drives and commutes and gas for trips that are longer.

Hybrids In The Future

It will be interesting to watch to see if Honda or Toyota or some other automaker can come up with a hybrid vehicle that will be able to compete with the Chevy Volt. Right now, Toyota’s plug-in Prius can only go ten miles before having the gas engine kick in. This means that for most consumers, they will still be using gas for the majority of their driving. Honda is currently working on fuel cell vehicles instead of the plug-in type of technology. The drawback of this technology is that it is at least 4 years or more from being able to be mass-produced, so they may not offer much competition to plug-in hybrids until later in the future.

Hybrid Auto Insurance Discounts

In addition to being able to save gas by driving a hybrid, there is also the potential to save money on auto insurance. There are a number of auto insurance companies that offer auto insurance discounts on hybrid vehicles. Online Auto Insurance has specifically designed a comparison search engine with the consumer in mind; therefore you can compare multiple auto insurance quotes through one form. You will get quotes from various leading companies which are the most well known companies.