Occam's Razor

If you are considering purchasing a car and it’s available as a hybrid, you should try to get a hybrid version.

I bought my first hybrid in 2004, a Honda Civic Hybrid and I haven’t looked back. I opted for Toyota Prius Prime, also a hybrid, some years ago when I finally replaced it. One thing I didn’t know then was that here in New England, mice find cars very tasty. This was never a problem in Northern Virginia where we used to live. Mice infested the car and basically totaled it until I belatedly looked into the problem of all the brown spots in the car. The insurance check though let me purchase a 2019 Toyota Camry which I got as a as hybrid. Unlike the Prius Prime, I don’t plug it in. Like my Honda Civic Hybrid it recharges itself by going downhill and through regenerative braking. It’s also one of the most fuel efficient cars available, averaging about 45 mpg.

Hybrid cars are everywhere and the technology has been perfected. In most cases, if you own a hybrid, you don’t have to worry about needing to plug it in. If you need more range, fill it up at a local gas station. What could be more convenient?

You will put out emissions, but it will be much less than a non-hybrid version of the same model. I have nothing against electric cars. My wife owns a Nissan Leaf which is wholly electric and has a range of about 150 miles. It’s used strictly around town, and if it needs a charge she can plug it into the 240 volt charger in our garage. Generally it is fully charged in a few hours. The same was true with my Prius Prime while I had it. This gave me about thirty miles on battery only before the engine kicked in.

Hybrid technologies generally don’t add much to the price of a car but do reduce pollutants compared to not driving a hybrid. Right now though hybrids are in a sweet spot, allowing you to save money without introducing range anxieties. And they are highly available.

It should be a no-brainer to get a hybrid car if that’s an option for you. The planet will thank you.