Car Insurance
Hybrid cars not so green?
Mon, 24 Apr 2006
Hybrid cars that use a combination of petrol and electric power may not be as environmentally friendly as first thought, according to new research.
A study carried out by US-based CNW Marketing Research found that the total amount of energy used in the production, running and disposal of a hybrid car was greater than most traditional petrol cars, with even some gas-guzzling 4x4s winning out on energy costs.
The study took into account all the energy used by a car in its life time and converted this into a energy cost per mile figure.
It found that cars such as the Toyota Prius, which runs partly on electricity, consumed more energy by this measure than a modern Jeep off-roader.
However, the study has been criticised for including transport costs to the US on the cars that need to be imported – including the Toyota from Japan.
The higher development cost attached to hybrids – still in their development phase – is also a key factor in their increased energy per mile figure, and this cost is likely to decrease in the future.
Although the price of hybrid cars remains relatively high in the UK, better fuel economy combined with tax credits and cheap car insurance premiums offered by some providers are making them a more attractive option for motorists.
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