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What's Better Diesel Or Hybrid? With gasoline prices continuing to skyrocket at gas pumps across the
United States, motorists and car manufacturers alike have been searching
for a new alternative to gasoline powered cars. However, just what the
best alternative really is seems to be a debate that has been brewing
amongst those who are most knowledgeable on the topic. With hybrid cars
seeming to gain more and more popularity over the past year, some car
manufacturers are wondering if electric cars are really the way to go.
An alternative to both hybrid cars and typical gasoline powered cars comes in the form of diesel powered cars. Much cheaper than gasoline, diesel has long provided an alternative fuel for motorists around the world. However, diesel powered cars have not been as successful within the United States. This has baffled many car manufacturers for a long time, given that diesel cars have been prevalent in other parts of the world including Europe for the last seven decades. Many consumers assume that diesel is comparable to gasoline, given that on the surface it seems the same - after all, you can pump both diesel and gasoline at your local gas station. However, diesel powers cars in a somewhat different way than gasoline. While gasoline uses spark plugs to ignite the gasoline and produce fuel
for the vehicle, diesel powered cars use compressed air. Diesel powered
driving has long been associated with the big rigs. Eighteen wheelers
and other large trucks are fueled by diesel for one main reason - the
excellent gas mileage. Diesel cars are also excellent on gas mileage,
something that is seemingly lacking from standard gasoline powered cars in
the United States. Diesel cars typically get between forty and fifty
miles per gallon, anywhere from twenty to forty percent better than the
average gasoline powered car. With regular gasoline prices rising, you have probably noticed that
lower diesel price at the gas station while you are filling up your tank.
Diesel prices do rise when regular gasoline prices rise, but diesel
prices are always lower than gasoline prices. This is perhaps one of the
most appealing characteristics of diesel for consumers that are tired of
paying upwards of three dollars per gallon of gasoline to fill up their
car's gas tank. However, diesel also has its downfalls. Environmental
studies have shown that diesel fuels omit considerably harmful fumes
into the atmosphere. Given recent environmental concerns, this gives
gasoline one up on diesel fueled engines. However, car consumers will find
that these are not the only options.
Many car manufacturers are now marketing hybrid vehicles. Hybrid
vehicles are powered by a combination of gasoline and electric power. By
combining gasoline with electric power, hybrid cars omit considerably less
harmful fumes into the atmosphere. In fact, while running on their
electric battery power, hybrid cars omit no fumes into the environment at
all. The hybrid presents an alternative that is not only cheaper at the
gas pump, but also more environmentally friendly than gasoline fueled
cars. Certain places in the United States that have been plagued by
heavy pollution, like the state of California; have seen a growing trend in
the purchase of hybrid vehicles over regular vehicles. In fact,
millions of Americans are currently living in areas that have poor air
quality. Hybrids could provide the beginning of a solution to this problem.
Without a doubt hybrid vehicles will provide somewhat of a reprieve from
dire air quality. However, the environmental pluses of hybrid vehicles
do not stop there. After the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina at the end of the
summer of 2005, many people were left wondering what caused such a
horrible hurricane season. Many scientists and environmentalists have blamed
the increase in major hurricanes in the negative affects global warming
has had on the environment. The excessive use of fossil fuels,
including gasoline, in our society has caused an extremely detrimental affect
on our atmosphere. Hybrid vehicles that use less gasoline and therefore
omit less detrimental fumes into the atmosphere are perhaps the first
step to a cleaner, healthier society and more breathable air. By
providing low gas cost and little harm to the environment hybrid cars seem to
be the newest trend in smart driving.
About the Author Gregg Hall is a business consultant and author for many online and
offline businesses and lives in Navarre Florida with his 16 year old son.
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