Hybrid cars seem to be the standard of the future. There are already many people driving hybrid cars on the road, and there will certainly be even more over time. If you believe in global warming, then you can appreciate the fascination people have with hybrid cars and how they can reduce air pollution that is destroying the environment.
Hybrid cars are powered using a combination of electric motors and gasoline engines. The idea is that this combination will reduce the vehicle’s carbon emissions during use. These vehicles cost a bit more than economy cars, but this could change in the future if traditional gasoline vehicles become obsolete.
Top 5 Driving Tips for Hybrid Cars
Before buying a hybrid car, you should follow some driving tips. These tips will help you save on gasoline and get the most out of your hybrid vehicle. Below are the top 5 driving tips for this purpose.
- Drive Efficiently – Hybrid vehicles were not designed for their performance. They were designed to be efficient vehicles by consuming less gasoline and using more electrical energy to make up the difference. That being said, this does not mean you should race on the highway or try to exhaust as many resources from your vehicle as possible. What you should do is use the gasoline engine just to get the car to the desired speed, then let the electric motor keep you cruising. This is the best way to save on gasoline.
- Lower Speed – Even if you set your vehicle on cruise control with the electric motor powering it, you will still have less fuel consumption if you drive over 55 mph. When driving on the highway, try to drive at 60 mph instead of 70 mph. This will be the best way to reduce gas consumption while maintaining a sufficiently fast speed on the highway.
- Manage Battery Charge – You might think that fully charging your hybrid car’s battery would be a wise choice before hitting the road. The truth is that a fully charged battery will consume energy faster than a half-charged battery. Many hybrid car manufacturers recommend keeping the battery charged between 20% and 80%. If it drops below 20% and you are still driving your vehicle, it could end up ruining your battery by not being able to recharge it as much in the future.
- Braking Helps the Battery – When you use the battery’s electrical power while driving your vehicle, you can actually return energy to the battery every time you apply the brakes. This does not mean you can drive very fast and then brake quickly to bring all that power back into the battery. It means you drive slowly, brake gradually, and try to brake as often as possible. If you do this, you will find that you won’t have to recharge your battery as often.
- Use Fewer Accessories – Remember that your car has many accessories that also draw power from its battery, such as the air conditioner, radio, heater, etc. If your vehicle has an eco mode, you should use it, as this will result in less consumption of your vehicle’s battery when powering these accessories. Other tips to follow are not using your headlights during the day and using your mobile phone for music and radio instead of your car’s radio.